Two in bag, two to go for Liverpool
Add the FA Cup to the collection. Jurgen Klopp has now won every major title for Liverpool.
A 6-5 victory over Chelsea on penalties in yesterday’s final produced Liverpool’s first FA Cup triumph since 2006 and kept them in contention for, potentially if unlikely, a quadruple of trophies.
Just like in the League Cup final in February, the FA Cup showpiece ended 0-0 through 120 minutes before Liverpool prevailed again. This time, the Reds were helped by Chelsea midfielder Mason Mount’s penalty being saved before Konstantinos Tsimikas clinched the shootout win with his first goal for the club.
In two weeks, Liverpool will be hoping to collect another trophy by beating Real Madrid in the Champions League final. Before then, Klopp has to hope Manchester City slip up in the final two rounds of the Premier League and Liverpool take advantage to regain that trophy.
‘‘That is part of the ‘mentality monsters’ as well, going to extra time and keeping the high level, performing well,’’ Liverpool goalkeeper Alisson Becker said. ‘‘It gives us even more confidence to keep on going for the Premier League and also the Champions League final.’’
There was only more Wembley pain for Chelsea. Weeks of ownership turmoil for Chelsea are ending by becoming the first team to lose three consecutive FA Cup final appearances, having been beaten by Arsenal in 2020 and Leicester last year.
The final of world football’s oldest competition had never gone to penalties before at Wembley. There hadn’t even been a goalless final after extra time since it started being played at the national stadium in 1923.
Yesterday’s final ended with one half of the stadium shrouded in a red haze of smoke after beginning under a cloud when Liverpool fans jeered the national anthem and the introduction of Prince William.
After the ceremony to mark 150 years of the FA Cup, the 141st final was more tense than turgid, just like in the League Cup final in February. There were 58 shots produced by the teams without finding the net over their two games at Wembley in 2022.
One chance did come early for Liverpool with Chelsea goalkeeper Edouard Mendy saving from Luis Diaz. Then came Christian Pulisic’s shot that crept wide on a frustrating afternoon for the Chelsea forward.
A blistering start to the second half by Chelsea saw Marcos Alonso shoot wide and send a free kick onto the crossbar around Pulisic’s effort being repelled by Alisson’s diving save.
A late flurry of Liverpool attempts couldn’t prevent the game going into extra time with the post hit by Diaz from a tight angle and Andy Robertson from close range.
The only previous goalless showpiece through extra time at Wembley was in 2005 when Arsenal won one of their record 14 titles.
Now Liverpool have the eighth FA Cup they had been waiting 16 years to win. –